Religion, Rights & Society is a core part of GCSE Religious Studies. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.
Key concepts
UN Declaration 1948Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 30 articles; drafted partly by Christian and Jewish thinkers after Holocaust.
Imago DeiHuman created in God's image (Genesis 1:27); Christian basis for human dignity and rights.
Liberation TheologyLatin American Catholic movement from 1960s; Gustavo Gutierrez; 'preferential option for the poor' against oppression.
Religious FreedomArticle 18 UDHR; Christian persecution in some Muslim states; UK Equality Act 2010 protects religion or belief.
Wealth and PovertyReligions emphasise care for poor; Christianity Matthew 25; Islam zakah; Jewish tzedakah; Buddhist dana.
Martin Luther KingBaptist minister led US civil rights movement; non-violence; Letter from Birmingham Jail; assassinated 1968.
Christian AidChristian charity tackling poverty since 1945
Islamic ReliefMuslim charity helping in 40+ countries since 1984
CAFODCatholic Agency for Overseas Development (1962)
Modern slaveryHuman trafficking, forced labour — still affects millions
SadaqahVoluntary Islamic giving beyond Zakah
Fair tradeTrade ensuring producers get a fair wage
Racial harmonyDifferent races living together with respect
Gender equalityMen and women treated as equals
Common mistakes to avoid
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
Do religions ignore social justice and human rights?✗ Yes, religions ignore these issues. ✓ No — many actively promote justice, charity and human dignity.
Are human rights and religion always in conflict?✗ Yes, they always conflict. ✓ No — many believers root human dignity and justice in their faith.
Do all religious teachings about wealth say the same thing?✗ Yes, all teach identical views on wealth. ✓ No — views differ, though many stress charity and responsibility.
What do orthodox Christians believe about the nature of Jesus?✗ Jesus was half God and half human. ✓ He is fully God and fully human at the same time (the incarnation) — both natures united in one person, as defined at the Council of Chalcedon.
What does karma mean in Hindu and Buddhist thought?✗ Karma is when bad things happen to bad people as punishment. ✓ The principle that actions have moral consequences shaping future experience or rebirth — not fate, but ethical cause and effect built into reality.
Practise Religion, Rights & Society — free games
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